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Madison squeezed her arm and smiled. “I think you’re underestimating Nash’s love for you, Velvet. He won’t let you go without a fight.”
“I agree,” I chimed in. “I haven’t known you guys very long, but even I can see how much that man adores you.”
Madison’s face lit up with a grin. “I was beginning to think I’d never see the day Nash Walker fell for a woman, but geez, when he fell, he fell hard.”
Velvet sighed, and it was such an unusual sight, because she didn’t seem to let things get to her much. Or, at least, if they did, she kept them close. “Okay, I’ll have faith in my man. I just hope he hurries up and works through his shit because I really need some sex.” She used humour like a shield but her disappointment was clear to see.
Madison’s laugh rang through the bar. “Oh honey, I have no doubt that Nash is feeling the same way.” She added with a wink, “I bet he’s in some serious pain.”
“Ugh,” I groaned, “I know what pain feels like when it comes to sex. Donovan got called into work this morning, right before we were about to have some. I need to start switching his damn phone off every time he comes over.” I glanced at Madison. “And I’m sorry to talk about sex with your brother, but fuck, I needed to get that off my chest.”
She laughed again and waved her hand as if to say ‘it doesn’t bother me’. “You can talk about my brother any day of the week. I just love to hear how you’ve got him wrapped around your finger because that man needed someone to do that to him.”
Velvet shifted off her stool. “Right, let’s get this alcohol. I need to do something to take my mind off all this.” She eyed Madison. “You sure you’re okay doing this? Being around all this alcohol?”
Madison nodded and gave us a smile. “Yeah, I’m doing really well these days. I go to my meetings and talk my issues out rather than keeping it all locked away. And J makes sure I keep it all up; he won’t let me slip.”
“You’ve got a good man there,” I said, honestly believing those words. J could be a moody asshole but he wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to Madison. “Okay, follow me. I’ve got everything out the back, ready to go.”
I led them out into the storeroom and we spent the next half hour packing their cars. The heat beat down on us and by the time we had transferred all the alcohol, sweat stuck to all of us.
Wiping my forehead, I complained, “I am sick of Queensland summers. Think I might move to Tasmania.”
“Don’t you dare,” Madison said, “Besides, you’d miss Blade too much.” Her eyes twinkled knowingly and her lips curled up in a grin. She, of course, was right.
Nodding, I conceded. “True, I would.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it and will see you tomorrow afternoon,” Madison said as she stepped off the footpath and headed to her car. Then she stopped abruptly, turned and asked, “Do you know if Blade’s mum is coming? She RSVP’d and said no, but Blade said he’d talk to her, and I never heard back.”
“I don’t think she is. I think she feels like she’d be out of place there with Marcus’s ‘real’ family, as she calls you guys.” It made me sad that Stella thought like this because I knew Madison, Scott and Sharon didn’t think this way.
Frowning, she asked, “What do you mean by real family?”
“Stella’s still gaining her confidence back and while her head knows she’s equal, her heart struggles to believe it. She hasn’t said as much, but it’s clear to me in the words she uses that she thinks of herself as the family no one talks about. Does that make sense?”
“I know what you’re getting at, but goodness, that’s awful. I’ll try to reach out to her this week and let her know I really want her there,” Madison said as she started walking backwards to her car.
“Good idea,” I agreed. “Now, are you sure you don’t want us to bring any food?”
“Nope, you’ve supplied all the drinks so we’ll take care of the food. And Harlow is making desserts. We could survive on that woman’s desserts alone.”
“I’m glad she’s coming. For a minute there, I thought she was gonna cancel on us.” Harlow had been unpredictable the last couple of months, often not turning up to club gatherings and Madison’s get togethers, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d decided to give the Christmas party a miss, too.
Madison’s expression turned thoughtful. “I think Scott may have said something to her. I’m not sure, but from something she said to me, it felt like that was the case. Whatever it was, I’m thankful. She needs to be around people. Shutting herself away like she has been won’t help her.”
As I watched them drive off, my thoughts drifted to the last couple of months. So much had changed in my life; so many new friends now surrounded me. It felt good, and I couldn’t help but think that Madison was right – Harlow needed to be with her family. Her Storm family.
* * *
By the time seven o’clock rolled around, my body was alive with anticipation and my mind was a mess of need. I couldn’t focus; I hadn’t been able to for at least the last hour. All I could think about was Donovan and his demand for me to be ready at seven. And he didn’t let me down.
At two minutes to seven, he walked through the doors of my bar. His eyes came straight to mine, and he strode to where I stood waiting near the door that would take us upstairs. “Evening,” he murmured as his strong arm slid around my waist. It was like our bodies’ memories
took over as we moved into each other, claiming the other as our own. Donovan had only one arm around me, one hand placed firmly on my ass, but in that one move, he’d signalled his ownership. I knew it, and anyone who was watching us would know it.
And damn it felt good.
Even my independent side lay down and let him take over.
